Combined panel fastener and electrical conduit



June 13, 1967 J. H. BRENNEMAN COMBINED PANEL FASTENER AND ELECTRICALCONDUIT 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 1, 1959 ATTORNEYS June 13,1967 J. H. BRENNEMAN COMBINED PANEL FASTENER AND ELECTRICAL CONDUIT 7Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept.

INVENTOR da'mv/y iwm /v ATTORNEYS June 13, 1967 J. H. BRENNEMAN3,325,535 I COMBINED PANEL FASTENER AND ELECTRICAL CONDUIT 7Sheeis-Sheet 3 Original Filed Sept. 1, 1959 ATTORNEYS June 13, 1967 J.H. BRENNEMAN 3,325,585

COMBINED PANEL FASTENER AND ELECTRICAL CONDUIT Original Filed Sept. 1,1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JOHN H. BRENNEMA/V MM War Zn @WnaATTORNEYS June 13, 1967 J. H. BRENNEMAN 3,325,535

COMBINED PANEL FASTENER AND ELECTRICAL CONDUIT Original Filed Sept. 1,1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I m m I, I w

ATTORNEYJ June 13, 1967 J. H. BRENNEMAN 3,325,585

COMBINED PANEL FASTENER AND ELECTRICAL CONDUIT Original Filed Sept. 1,1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I m! w we w 42 j I W i i ATTORNEYJ June 13, 1967J. H. BRENNEMAN 3,325,585

COMBINED PANEL FASTENER AND ELECTRICAL CONDUIT Original Filed Sept. 1,1959 7 Sheets-Shee1 7 gag v 22e I 228 E 7 15 INVENTOR JOHN h. BRENNEMA/VATTORNEY United States Patent 3,325,585 CUMBINED PANEL FASTENER ANDELECTRICAL CONDUIT John H. Brenneman, 6 Queenston Place,

Princeton, NJ. 08540 Continuation of application Ser. No. 837,495, Sept.1, 1959. This application Mar. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 534,533

11 Claims. (Cl. 174-48) This is a continuation of application Ser. No.837,495, filed Sept. 1, 1959, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a new system of panel construction forbuildings, such as residential houses, fences and the like, and moreparticularly to novel spline fasteners and to novel prefabricated panelswhich are adapted to be installed with a minimum of on-site labor.

Splines have been used for many years in the building trades as tools ofalignment, their most notable use being as inserts in glued joints or inceiling or roof panels to preclude the sagging or uneven deflection ofthe structural materials used. Usually, however, it has been considerednecessary to use a device or material other than the spline forfastening purposes. For example, nails and/or glue are commonly used tojoin interior wall or ceiling panels though, in such cases, it hasusually been necessary to leave one side of the panels unfinished sothat the nailing or gluing operation might be properly performed. Inthose cases where the panels have been completely prefabricated duringmanufacture, it has been necessary to use some external fastener devicesuch as a batten or nails to join them and to finish over any nail holesand other exposed fasteners.

All construction methods devised to date using prefabricated woodenpanels have necessitated substantial onsite labor for the constructionof a given unit, even where small or light buildings are involved. Inaddition to the added cost in high priced labor areas, such methods haverequired the use of cumbersome and time-consuming construction methods,such as drilling, gluing, hammering, driving screws, etc., all of whichtend to injure the materials of construction to a greater or lesserdegree and/ or require additional finishing operations.

Furthermore, the wiring techniques associated with prefabricated panelconstruction methods involve substantial labor, time and cost and oftenresult in structural damage due to the necessity for cuttingpre-installed structural parts. Also, unless suitable precautions aretaken, such as the installation of conduits and the like, conventionalwiring presents a fire hazard.

Air heating and cooling systems required by prior prefabricated panelbuilding techniques have also presented a source of difficulty. Forexample, such systems often require the use of circuitous and involvedduct-Work and the installation of conventional heating ducts involvesextensive cutting of framing and hand-fitting of sheet metal and extrawall space.

It is accordingly the primary object of the present invention to providea structural fastening device making possible the erection of a buildingor other structure using completely finished panel components for thefloors, walls, ceilings and roofs which may be factory finished according to builder specifications and requiring a minimum of nails andcarpentry work.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a structuralfastening device making possible the erection of a building or otherstructure having no face nailing and requiring as tools of constructiononly a rubber mallet, pounding blocks, a hammer and nails for blindnailing and hack saw.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a splinefastening device having teeth which serves not only to fasten two wallpanels or other struc- "ice tural units together, but which functionsadditionally as a positive, interlocking Weatherstripping or sealingconnection extending from fioor to ceiling, as an electrical conduit andas a trim section.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a splinefastening device making possible the use of prefabricated, sealed wall,ceiling and/ or floor plywood panel units which obviate the need forconventional air conditioning ducts and which are more efiicient thanprior art.

air conditioning systems.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a spinefastening device which makes possible the elimination of the specialcutting and fitting involved when different structural forms are joinedand which permits the separation of the mechanical units into smaller,simpler parts.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a splinefastening device having a built-in electrical conduit which serves toadequately protect against the fire hazards of electrical wiring andwhich is so constructed as to permit the addition to or elimination ofwiring from the structure after it has been installed without requiringa substantial amount of labor, time or cost by eliminating the need todamage or cut the existing structure.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novelroof truss structure which is sturdy, weatherproof and which may besimply constructed by unskilled labor.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent as thedescription proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIGURE 14 are pictorial views of several embodiments of the novel splinefastening device of the persent invention;

FIGURES 5-10 are transverse sectional views of other modifications ofthe basic spline fastening device of the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is a transverse sectional view showing the application ofseveral of the fastening devices of the instant invention to a varietyof fastening and securing uses, including the fastening together ofpanels to a support post, use as a door trim section and the supportingand securing of a Window trim section; 1

FIGURE 12 is a transverse sectional view through a floor structureshowing the use of several of the novel fastening devices of the instantinvention as (1) an electrical sill-box and (2) as means for securing athreshold structure;

FIGURE 12A is an elevation in partial section similar to FIGURE 12 butshowing the use of the spline connector as a conduit for carrying theelectrical wiring;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view of a portion of a building structureshowing additional applications of several of the fastening devices ofthe instant invention, including the fastening of a rain gutter to theside of a buildmg:

FIGURE 14 is a transverse section taken along lines 14-14 of FIGURE 15and showing a prefabricated wall panel secured to adjacent structuralunits by means of the novel spline fastening devices of the instantinvention and being adapted for use as a heat conduit;

FIGURE 1.5 is a front elevation of the panel structure shown in FIGURE14, having a portion of its internal structure shown in section alongthe lines 1515 of FIGURE 14 and schematically showing the cooperationbetween the panel and a blower forming part of an air conditioningsystem;

FIGURE 16isa transverse sectional view showing the method of assembly.of two structural units using the novel spline fastening device of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 17 is a partially sectioned front elevation of 5 a paneledenclosure utilizing the novel spline fasteners of the present invention;and

FIGURE 18 is a partially sectioned front elevation of another paneledenclosure utilizing the novel spline fasteners of the present invention.

The basic spline fastening device of the instant invention may best bedescribed by reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawings. As there shown, thespline fastener comprises an elongated, hollow, generally rectangularelement 20 having two planar sides 22 and two toothed sides 24. Each ofsides 24 is longitudinally divided into two substantially equal portions26 and 28, each of which has continuous, longitudinally oriented rows ofteeth 30 all of whose leading faces 32 slope upwardly toward thelongitudinal center of sides 24. Trailing faces 34 of each of said teethform an acute angle with said leading faces 32 to provide a relativelysharp biting edge'36 on each of the teeth.

Thus, as can be clearly seen in FIGURE 1, the sides 24 and portions 26and 28 of each side are respectively mirror images of one another. Whilethe spline fastener is constructed of aluminum in its preferred form,any rigid material having sound structural characteristics may beemployed with similar effectiveness.

The use of a spline fastener as described above may best be shown byreference to FIGURE 16, in which a wall panel and support post are shownfastened together in edge-to-edge abutting relationship. Wall panel 38and post 40 are provided with longitudinal slots 42 and 44 in theirrespective abutting edges. The side walls 46 and 48 of the respectiveslots are substantially parallel to and separated from one another by adistance which is slightly less than the distance between the bitingedges 50 and 51 of the corresponding teeth 53 on opposite sides ofspline fastener 52 but slightly greater than the distance separating thecorresponding valleys 54 separating adjacent teeth on one side from thebase of the valleys 56 on the opposite side of the spline fastener.

As will be apparent from FIGURE 16, when spline fastener 52 is forcedinto slot 42 (as by means of a rubber mallet or the like), teeth 53will, as they bite into the side walls of the slot, displace the wood ofsaid side walls into the valleys between the teeth, thus increasing theholding capacity of the spline fastener.

To secure panel 38 to post 40, the exposed end 6!) of spline fastener 52is forced into slot 44 as by means of a pounding block (not shown) orlike tool. Panel 38 and post 40 are forced together until their edges 62and 64, respectively, abut, at which point they will be tightly securedrelative to one another by means of the spline fastener. As is shown inFIGURE 16, the abutting edges 62 and 64 of panel 38 and post 40 may beconcave to improve the fit of the panels one against the other and,correspondingly, to improve the locking action of the spline fastener.

Though the spline fasteners of the instant invention may be used inshort sections if desired since two inch lengths will support a force ofover 100 pounds, one novel feature of the instant invention resides inmaking the spline fasteners substantially co-extensive with the slotsprovided in the edges of the structural members into which the fasteneris to be inserted. Such a provision results in a structure providing apositive, interlocking Weatherstripping connection without the need ofadditional Weatherstripping connections. A more effective weather sealmay be provided, if desired, by the additional application of caulkingor a gasket at the intersection of the spline fastener with the outeredges of the slots in the structural units, as shown by the numeral 58in FIGURE 16.

The spline fastener shown in FIGURE 1 has teeth each of whose leadingfaces 32 is continuous and concave or hollow-ground. This configurationprovides a basic section which is almost universally adaptable tovarying requirements and which is relatively easy and economical to 4produce. It is, accordingly, the preferred structure. Depending upon theintended use, however, the design of the spline fastener may be variedas shown in the drawings.

For example, the structure of FIGURE 2 has concave or hollow-ground,intermittent teeth in which alternating notches gouged in the teethprovide sharper punching power for use with wooden structural elementshaving very pronounced hard and soft annual rings, such as Douglas Fir.

FIGURE 3 shows a spline fastener having a series of roWs ofintermittent, burr-like teeth having outstanding punching ability withrespect to tough or variable hardness wood and plastic structural units.Such a section could be extruded with fiat sides and the teeth couldthen be cut in a separate operation by means of a gouge-like cutteradapted to raise extremely sharp-edged burrs.

The spline fastener shown in FIGURE 4 is provided with continuous,straight-beveled teeth. This section is similar to that shown in FIGURE1 except that its teeth are more closely spaced than those in FIGURE 1and have flat rather than concave or hollow-ground leading faces. As inthe case of the structure shown in FIGURE 1, this structure is generallyuniversally adaptable to various requirements and, because of itsadditional biting surfaces, has an especially strong gripping action.

The tubular fastener shown in FIGURE 5 (shown in transverse action) issimilar to that shown in FIGURE 1 in that its teeth have leading faceswhich are concave or hollow-ground. But whereas the locus of pointscorresponding to the biting edges of the teeth on one side of the splinefastener of FIGURE 1 is substantially parallel to the locus of pointscorresponding to the bitingedges of the teeth on the opposite side ofthat fastener, the teeth of the fastener of FIGURE 5 taper outwardly ina direction from each of ends 65 and 66 of the section toward itscentral portion 67, resulting in a spline fastener whose central portionis thicker than its end portions. Since the teeth in the central portionof a given spline fastener must provide gripping action in a surfacewhich has been scraped by the teeth in the end regions of the splinefastener during its insertion into the slot provided in the structuralmember, the taper as above described tends to increase the bitingstrength of the centrally located teeth to compensate for this fact.

Variations of the basic spline fasteners shown in FIG- URES 1-5, some ofwhich have substantial functions other than the fastening together oftwo structural units, are shown in FIGURES 6-10. For example, in thetrimtype spline section shown in FIGURE 6, only one portion 68 of eachside 69 is provided with teeth, the other side 71 being substantiallyplanar for exposure as trim, for various purposes to be hereinafter setforth. In other respects, however, the trim-type spline element is usedsimilarly to that described above in connection with the section shownin FIGURE 1, the toothed portion of the spline section being inserted ina slot suitably provided in a structural element to which the trim-typespline is to be attached (see FIGURE 11). Other modifications of splinefastening devices are shown in FIGURES 710, details of which will bediscussed in a later portion of this specification.

In FIGURE 11, a trim-type spline section as shown in FIGURE 6 is shownin use as trim for a door. A post 70 or other suitable support isprovided on a side 71 with a longitudinal slot 72 having parallel sidewalls 74 and being substantially co-extensive with the length of thepost. Substantially co-extensive with slot 72 and firmly secured thereinby means of its teeth projecting into the wood of side walls 74 is atrim-type spline section 76 of the type shown in FIGURE 6, the planarportion 78 of the section projecting laterally out of the slot. Splinesection 76 is inserted into slot 72 in a manner identical to thatdescribed above.

As clearly shown in FIGURE 11, a door 80 is situated in its closedposition with its free end in abutting relationship with the exposedplanar portion 78, the free vertical edge 82 of'the door being insealing contact with a spring element 84 which is rigidly fastened topost 70. Since spline section 76 may be force-fitted into slot 72 bymeans of a rubber mallet or the like, the planar portion 78 of thesection may be completely prefinished prior to its insertion in the slotwithout any danger of marring the finish during installation.

Also shown in FIGURE 11 is a novel spline fastener of the instantinvention in use as a support for a windowpane. Side 88 of post 70 isprovided with a longitudinal slot 90 having parallel side walls 92 andbeing substantially co-extensive with the length of the post.Forcefitted into slot 90 in the manner described previously above is aspline fastener 94 of the type shown in FIG- URE 1 and whose length isslightly greater than the length of the edge of the windowpane which isbounded by the laterally projecting portion 96 of the spline fastener.

A window trim section 98, of the same length as spline fastener 94 andhaving a U-shaped cap 100, is positioned adjacent side 88 of post 70with its cap 100 force-fitted over the projecting portion 96 of splinefastener 94. As clearly shown, ratchets 102 at the base of cap member100 extend beyond the edges of the lowermost teeth 104 on projectingportion 96 and fix cap 100 and trim section 98 securely in place withrespect to side 88 of post 70 and spline fastener 94.

Positioned adjacent the shoulder formed by the intersection of cap 100with the remainder of trim section 98 is a resilient gasket 106 againstwhich insulating-type windowpane 108 is positioned. A spring clip 110 isinserted into the opening bounded by the edge 112 of the windowpane,gasket 106 .and trim section 98, a short leg 114 of the spring clipextending around the edge of the windowpane and a long arm 116 of thespring clip extending into a hooked edge 118 of trim section 98, thussecuring one edge of windowpane 108 in position as shown in FIGURE 11.Caulking material 120 is inserted in the gap between short and long arms114 and 116, respectively, to suitably seal the support surface.

Though the structure shown in FIGURE 11 and described immediately aboveis the jamb section of a window frame, the other jamb section and thehead and sill sections of the frame may be similarly constructed, thusproviding an effective frame bounding the windowpane and securing itfirmly in place. Where it is impractical to slot the wooden supportmember to insert a spline fastener of the type shown in FIGURE 1, afastener of the type shown in FIGURE 9, which is suitably provided withscrew holes along its length, may be screwed into place to serve as theprojecting portion of the spline fastener.

In FIGURE 12, the novel spline fasteners of the instant invention areshown in use to secure a threshold member in place. Secured to the edgeof a floor panel 122 by means of screws or screw nails 124 passingthrough a hole suitably provided in its fin 126 is a spline fastener 128of the type shown in FIGURE 7. As so secured, the toothed portion 130 ofthe spline fastener projects above and partly rests upon floor panel122. The other portion of the toothed portion 130 rests upon the elbow132 of a sill-box spline section 133 to be described in greater detailbelow.

A threshold frame 134, which may be of aluminum or like material, isprovided with a longitudinally slotted portion 136 on its underside, thewalls 138 of the slot being separated by a distance slightly greaterthan the distance between the corresponding teeth of opposite sides 140and 142 of toothed portion 130. Threshold frame 134 is secured relativeto the upwardly toothed portion 130 by forcing it down about the saidportion 50 that the ratchets 144 in the slots are in locking engagementwith the lowermost of the teeth on toothed portion 130. A resilientgasket 146, which is suitably secured in the 6 upper face of threshold134, serves to sealingly engage a door 148 in its closed position.

Still another use of the novel spline fasteners of the instant inventionis shown in FIGURE 13. As there shown, a filler spline fastener 150 ofthe type shown in FIG- URE 9 is shown force-fitted into a slottedstructural member 152, A rain gutter 154 having an L-shaped securingportion 156, is rigidly secured to said structural member by means ofspline fastener 150, leg 158 of the L- shaped portion being adjacentside wall 160 of the slot, leg 162 being positioned adjacent the base ofthe slot. A downspout 163, shown partly in section, is secured as bywelding to rain gutter 154.

FIGURE 13 also shows the use of a spline fastener of the type shown inFIGURE 8, the fin 164 of said spline fastener extending into a suitablyprovided slot or kerf 166 suitably provided in a structural member 168.Since fin 164 is not provided with teeth and is not otherwise secured tostructural member 168, this con nection will secure structural members168 and 170 against movement relative to one another only in a directionnormal to the plane of the fin.

As aforesaid, each of the spline fasteners of the instant invention isprovided with a hollow central portion, in the form of a longitudinalbore, as can clearly be seen in FIGURES 1-10. This provision gives thespline fastener one of its most significant advantages, in that itprovides a continuous raceway through which wires can be pulledthroughout a building with a minimum of difiiculty. This results notonly in substantial economies due to a significant reduction in thelabor and time required for the installation of the wiring but, as well,in a reduction in damage to the structural materials due to theelimination of the cutting of structural parts normally required forwiring installation. Furthermore, the spline fastener serves as aconduit for the electrical wiring, greatly reducing fire hazard in thestructure in which the spline fasteners are used.

To obtain maximum advantage from the use of the spline fasteners asconduits for electrical wiring, however, the spline fasteners should beused in conjunction with a sill-box spline fastener of the type shown inFIG- URES 10, 12 and 12A. As shown in detail in FIGURE 10, the sill-boxspline fastener comprises a Y-shaped elongated section 172 whose trunk174 is a toothed fastening section of the type described above inconnection with the other spline fasteners. The upwardly exendingbranches 176 and 178 of the section are provided with shoulders 180 forsupporting a continuous sealing gasket 182 and a removable access panel184. The inner edges 186 of the outer extremities of the branches aretoothed sufficiently to secure access panel 184 in the sillbox but toallow its removal with a minimum of effort. As is the case with each ofthe spline fasteners of the instant invention, the sill-box channel iselongated, the view shown in FIGURE 10 being a sectional view takentransversely therethrough.

In FIGURE 12, the sill-box spline fasteners is shown securely positionedwith its trunk 174 locked in a slot 188 provided in floor panel 122, thesill-box being force-fitted into the slot in the manner aforedescribedin connection with the other spline fasteners. In the preferredembodiment, a perimeter of sill-boxes is formed around an entirebuilding and used to carry trunk power lines safely and economically inits central void portion 190. With such a construction, the sill-box issituated below headers 212 (see FIGURE 12A) which are predrilled with asuitable number of holes having walls 214 throughout their length andpositioned so that the holes align with the longitudinal bores in thespline fasteners so that wiring may be passed through the splinefastener bores into the headers as shown in FIGURE 12A. The mainelectrical lines 212 are carried in central void 190 and the individualwiring 216 is fed through holes having walls 214 which may be drilledinto the header. Wires 216 may then be drawn up from the sill-boxthrough the spline fastener bores and into the headers to provide wiringwhere needed throughout the structure. Wires 216 may also be drawn in asimilar manner from the sill-box (see FIGURE 12A) through the bores ofspline fasteners 174 radiating in horizontal directions therefrom.

After the structure has been completed, wiring can be added by removingthe sill-box access panel, making a suitable connection with the trunkpower lines, and drilling into a spline fastener or structural member totake the wire where it is needed. Electrical switches and outlets may beinstalled by drilling through the wall into a spline fastener andsecuring the connection box to the wall in front of the spline. Ifdesired, of course, additional sillbox spline fasteners may be provided,preferably one for each floor of the structure. The foregoing structuremakes possible a truly effective trunk distributing system.

As aforesaid, the air conditioning requirements of prior artconstruction systems and methods often required the use of circuitousand involved duct work involving extensive cutting of framing andhand-fitting of sheet metal, usually at great cost. One of the importantfeatures of the instant invention, made possible by the use of my novelspline fasteners, is the partial elimination of such prior artconventional heating system components by utilizing the interior spacebetween the outer wall member of each panel as a conditioned airpassageway to serve as ducting which would otherwise require extra wallspace anddeparture from the sole use of the novel panel construction ofthe present invention to provide increased wall or floor thickness tohide the duct work.

A room or other enclosure to be air conditioned is provided with Walland floor panels of the type shown in FIGURES 14 and 15. Such a panelcomprises two spaced sheets 194 and 195 sealed at their sides byvertical strips 196, each of which has a longitudinal slot 198substantially coextensive therewith. The top edge of each panel which isto be used as a wall panel is sealed by a horizontal strip (not shown),thus forming a hollow central portion 200 having an open bottom 201; foruse as a floor panel, both top and bottom edges are sealed in thismanner. Provided near the top of sheet 194 is an opening having a seriesof staggered louvres 202 therein. The enclosure is formed with panels ofthe type described,

the panels being fastened together either directly or to intermediateslotted structural elements by means of spline fasteners in the mannerheretofore described. The floor panel will be positioned with itslouvres facing upwardly into the enclosure, communication between asource of temperature-conditioned air and the floor panel beingestablished by cutting an opening to provide a suitable inlet (notshown) in the spaced sheet 195 of the floor panel.

In use, temperature=conditioned air, i.e., either hot or cool, is forcedby a suitable blower 203 into the inlet in the fioor panel, out of thelouvres in said panel, and into the enclosure. Air is exhausted from theenclosure through louvres 202 of the wall panels, through the hollowcentral portion 200 thereof, out through its bottom opening and into aconduit leading back to the blower inlet for recycling to the airconditioning unit.

The foregoing system is most eflicient for the heating of an enclosure,since the heated air is best introduced at floor level. For coolingpurposes, however, the flow of air may be reversed if desired (i.e.,into the wall panels, out through louvres 202, into the enclosure,through the louvres in the floor panel, and back to the inlet of theblower) to establish introduction of the cool air at the upper walllevel. If desired, the hollow interiors of the ceiling panels may alsobe integrated into the conditioning system.

To protect the panel from the effects of the air forced into the panel,the inner surfaces of the panel are factory coated with a protectivematerial 204. An aluminum spray coating is especially effective for thispurpose. Such coating also serves as an insulation barrier to impede theflow of radiant energy into or out of the enclosure bounded by thepanel. As shown in FIGURE 14, additional conventional mat insulation 206may be provided in the panel if desired.

Panel 192 is preferably made of glued plywood skinstressed sheets,though other materials may be satisfactorily employed.

The air conditioning structure described above not only obviates theneed for the installation of circuitous and involved duct work and theextensive cutting of framing and hand-fitting of sheet metal asaforestated, but addi tionally serves to make the wall, floor andceiling panels themselves serve as effective heat transfer surfaces.Furthermore, since the panels may be easily installed to means of myspline fasteners, the prefabricated panels may be factory coated andsealed, substantially reducing construction costs.

A representative illustration of the four-walled enclosure discussedabove having top and bottom horizontal panels such as ceiling 212 andfloor 214, vertical side wall panels 216 and vertical front and rearwall panels 218 with all panels being connected in identical manner isshown in FIGURE 17. Ceiling 212, floor 214 and the four vertical wallpanels are provided with elongated splinereceiving slots 213, 215 and220 respectively, in their end edges substantially coextensive with therespective panel edge. Intermediate horizontally extending structuralmembers 222 having elongated slots 224 in adjacent intersecting surfacesmay be disposed intermediate the horizontal and vertical panels forreceiving elongated spline fasteners 223 to fasten ceiling 212 and floor214 in position. The vertical panels may be secured in position by meansof elongated spline fasteners in vertical intermediate structuralmembers as shown in FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 18 illustrates an enclosure having vertical side wall panels 226,front and rear wall panels 228, a top ceiling panel 230 and a bottomfloor panel 232. In this embodiment, the ceiling and floor panels arejoined directly to the vertical wall panels by means of elongated splineconnectors 234. Side wall panels 226 are provided with elongated splinereceiving slots 236 in their end edges. Ceiling panel 230 and floorpanel 232 are provided with similar elongated spline receiving slots 238near their end edges in their bottom and top surfaces respectively. Thisarrangement obviates the need for intermediate structural members 224shown in FIGURE 17.

Numerous other uses may be found for the novel spline fasteners of theinstant invention. For example, prefabricated storage units (i.e.,closets, shelves and the like on one wall) may be easily installedbetween two supports by means of the spline fasteners.

The advantages and remarkable savings which can be effected using mynovel spline fastener construction and associated structural units areevident from the foregoing description. The use of such fasteningelements promises to open up a completely new field of construction andprovide substantial opportunities for the construction of lowcostbuildings or other structures. All structural units may be prefabricatedand prefinished and assembly is so completely simplified as to permitmuch of the work to be done by the owner himself.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The structuralelements, which preferably are of aluminum and fir, may advantageouslybe made of other materials. For example, wooden posts or edge members ofthe plywood panels may be coated with a plastic covering or be made oflaminated layers to reduce Warp ing and splitting. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come Within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. In a building, a joint construction comprising at least twostructural members such as posts, panels or beams Where at least one ofsaid members is a panel that is secured together With the other memberin abutting relationship, there being opposed slots in the abuttingsurfaces of said structural members and extending substantially thelength of and opening onto said surfaces; a hollow rigid coupling memberfor both positioning and holding said members together, said couplingmember having a length several times as great as any of its lateraldimensions and two opposed sides, each of said sides being divided intotwo parallel surface portions on either side of a plane passing throughsaid member substantially perpendicularly to said sides; each of saidsurface portions having projections with biting edges, leading facessloping gradually upward in a direction towards said plane, and trailingfaces forming acute angles with said leading faces; the portion of saidcoupling member on one side of said plane being substantially completelywithin the slot formed in the abutting surface of one of said structuralmembers and the portion of said coupling member on the other side ofsaid plane being substantially completely Within the slot formed in theabutting surface of the other of said structural member, and the bitingedges of said projections on both sides of said coupling memberextending into and firmly gripping the side walls of said slots in saidstructural members.

2. The joint construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said panel ismade of two laterally spaced panel members joined together at theiredges to marginal edge frame members; two of said edge frame membersbeing longitundinally slotted to receive coupling members defined inclaim 1; a layer of protective material in intimate contact with innerfacing surfaces of said panels, and an air inlet and an air outlet insaid wall sections whereby the space between said inner facing surfacesserves as an air conduit.

3. The joint construction as defined in claim 1 wherein electricalconductors extend through said hollow connector member whereby saidconnector members serve as a conduit for distribution of electricalpower through a building.

4. The joint construction as defined in claim 3 further including ahorizontally extending floor panel supporting said Wall panel and havinga horizontally extending slot therein; a sill-box member having a rigidconnector portion within said slot to secure said sill-box member tosaid floor panel; and electrical conductor means disposed in saidstill-box member and connected to the conductor means in the hollowcoupling member joining said wall panels.

5. The joint construction as defined in claim 4 wherein said sill-boxmember includes a readily detachable cover member to provide access tosaid conductors in said sillbox member.

6. The joint construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said twostructural members are part of a vertical wall in a building and arejoined to a horizontal structural portion such as a floor or ceiling, ofsaid building; said horizontal structural portion having a longitudinalslot at a location abutting a marginal edge of at least one said twostructural members; said one of said structural members having a furtherlongitudinal slot facing and aligned with the longitudinal slot in saidhorizontal por tion; and another of said coupling members extending intoeach of said facing longitudinal slots for securing said vertical walland said horizontal structural portion togethcr.

7. The joint construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said twostructural members are part of a vertical wall in a building and arejoined to a horizontal floor portion at the bottom and to a horizontalceiling structure at the top; said floor and ceiling portions eachhaving a longitudinal slot abutting a marginal edge of at least one ofsaid two structural members; said one of said two structural membershaving two additional longitudinal slots, one facing and aligned withthe floor portion and the other facing and aligned with the ceilingportion; and additional ones of said coupling members extending intoeach of said facing longitundinal slots for securing said vertical wallwith said floor and ceiling portions.

8. The joint construction as defined in claim 1 wherein an enclosuredefining wall made of at least four substantially vertical wall sectionscomposed of at least one panel each are disposed in the form of a closedpolygon and joined to a floor section; the wall sections each containone or more of said structural members each having aligned longitudinalslots in their abutting edge surfaces at the corners of said polygon;the adjacent structural members being secured together by separate onesof said rigid coupling means disposed in said aligned slots; and therebeing aligned slots in the floor section and a plurality of panelsforming the enclosure defining wall for joining the enclosure definingwall and floor section together.

a. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein electrical conductorsextend through said hollow connector members whereby serve as a conduitfor distribution of electrical power through a building.

w. The joint construction as defined in claim 9 further having asill-box member having a rigid connector portion within said slot tosecure said sill-box member to said floor section; and electricalconductor means disposed in said sill-box member and connected to theconductor means in the hollow coupling member joining said wall panels.

11. A wall construction comprising: a pair of prefabricated wall panelsdisposed in edge-to-edge abutting relationship and having longitudinalslots in and extending substantially the length of said panels includingat least one elongated hollow metal fastener having side wall portionsdisposed in the slots in said panels to locate said panels in alignedrelationship; a horizontally extending floor support member supportingsaid wall panels having a horizontally extending slot therein; asill-box member having a spline connector portion within said floorsupport member slot securing said sill-box member to said floor supportmember; electrical conductor means disposed in said hollow fastener andin said sill-box member; and a separate cover member on said sill-boxmember which provides access to said conductors in said sill-box member.

No references cited.

LEWIS H. MYERS, Primary Examiner, H. W, COLLINS, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A BUILDING, A JOINT CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING AT LEAST TWOSTRUCTURAL MEMBERS SUCH AS POSTS, PANELS OR BEAMS WHERE AT LEAST ONE OFSAID MEMBERS IS A PANEL THAT IS SECURED TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER MEMBERIN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP, THERE BEING OPPOSED SLOTS IN THE ABUTTINGSURFACES OF SAID STRUCTURAL MEMBERS AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THELENGTH OF AND OPENING ONTO SAID SURFACES; A HOLLOW RIGID COUPLING MEMBERFOR BOTH POSITIONING AND HOLDING SAID MEMBERS TOGETHER, SAID COUPLINGMEMBER HAVING A LENGTH SEVERAL TIMES AS GREAT AS ANY OF ITS LATERALDIMENSION AND TWO OPPOSED SIDES, EACH OF SAID SIDES BEING DIVIDED INTOTWO PARALLEL SURFACE PORTIONS ON EITHER SIDE OF A PLANE PASSING THROUGHSAID MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY TO SAID SIDES; EACH OF SAIDSURFACE PORTIONS HAVING PROJECTIONS WITH BITING EDGES, LEADING FACESSLOPING GRADUALLY UPWARD IN A DIRECTION TOWARDS SAID PLANE, AND TRAILINGFACES FORMING ACUTE ANGLES WITH SAID LEADING FACES; THE PORTION OF SAIDCOUPLING MEMBER ON ONE SIDE OF SAID PLANE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELYWITHIN THE SLOT FORMED IN THE ABUTTING SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID STRUCTURALMEMBERS AND THE PORTION OF SAID COUPLING MEMBER ON THE OTHER SIDE OFSAID PLANE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY WITHIN THE SLOT FORMED IN THEABUTTING SURFACE OF THE OTHER OF SAID STRUCTURAL MEMBER, AND THE BITINGEDGES OF SAID PROJECTIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF SAID COUPLING MEMBEREXTENDING INTO AND FIRMLY GRIPPING THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID SLOTS IN SAIDSTRUCTURAL MEMBERS.